MEDICINE

BACKGROUND

• Prevents and treats illnesses
• Prehistoric medicine used plants
• 3000 BC first physician
• Anatomy improved during Renaissance
• Microscope invented

BACKGROUND CONTINUED

• Germ theory of disease led to cures in 19th century
• First schools of medicine open in 12th century
• 20-21st century modern technology improves medicine
• New advanced research in all fields of science
• Globalization of medicine

NORTH AMERICA

• Advanced medicine
• Infant mortality rates lowest in North America
• Europeans brought new diseases to America
• Heart disease mortality dropped 41% from 1971
• Gene therapy created

SOUTH AMERICA

• Columbia has extremely advanced medicine
• In 1985, first successful in vitro fertilization
• Also in 1985, first heart transplant
• Current economic crisis has stopped medical advancement

AFRICA

• Few areas with advanced medicine
• Still use traditional methods
• Many refuse western medical methods
• Use much spiritual reasoning
• Recent successful vitamin program for AIDS

EUROPE

• Advanced medicine
• First surgeries performed around 12th century
• Invention of anesthesia
• European Medicines Agency from 1995-2004

ASIA

• Mostly traditional medicine
• First therapeutic activities in 11th century BC
• Focus on herbal medicine
• Singapore, new artificial heart device saved many lives

AUSTRALIA

• Advanced medicine
• 1975, introduced universal health care
• Continent with highest life expectancy
• 1976, invention of ultrasound
• 1940s, developed workd's first antibiotic

Conclusion

Each of the continents have developed their own unique medicines. But globalization has helped spread some of the more advanced medical technologies around the globe. Soon, all of the continents will be as developed as the U.S in their medicine.